RESUMO
The study was carried out to compare the recordings of body temperature using oral mercury thermometer and liquid-crystal forehead thermometer, so as to assess and ascertain the accuracy and validity of the later method. Setting: Hira General Hospital, Abbottabad. Subjects and Materials: Simultaneous recordings were made using the two devices in randomly enrolled 147 patients. The ages of patients ranged from 10 years to 90 years. FeverScan liquid-crystal forehead thermometer, Boots [UK] was used for forehead temperature while Chinese made mercury thermometer [Safety] was used to check oral temperature. Significant difference existed between the recordings of two devices. The mean difference was 1.19 degree F [p<0.001]. FeverScan liquid-crystal forehead thermometer recorded higher temperatures. In patients without pyrexia both devices recorded temperature within normal range. Conclusions: The sensitivity of FeverScan liquid-crystal forehead thermometer to detect fever was comparable to mercury thermometer but was unreliable in grading fever and showed a tendency to over estimate the temperature. It is a good device for home use but health providers should not use it. Mercury thermometer remains the gold standard